When I graduated from college, my only ambition was to serve in ministry for the rest of my life.

 
I’ve had the privilege of traveling, leading worship, running internships and being part of a church staff at several churches. When we planted a church in 2011, I had to do whatever it took to keep insurance and put food on the table: coffee shop barista, personal banker, investment assistant, insurance salesperson. Of course, this was while I managed the bookkeeping at the church, hosted a women’s small group and led worship every week. I’m also a mom of two kids and a wife to a super leader.

Because of the desire to accomplish God’s work, at different times in my life I’ve also maintained jobs to pay for my “ministry habit.”

What is work? It’s not necessarily the same thing as a job. My job pays the bills. My work fulfills a God-given purpose. Because of the desire to accomplish God’s work, at different times in my life I’ve also maintained jobs to pay for my “ministry habit.” Some people drink coffee. Some people shop. My habit is ministry, and it’s expensive. It’s not a hobby; it’s my work and calling. It’s not a stepping stone; it’s a life of sacrifice, whatever the position. At the moment, my work and my job are in the church, but that could change in the future.

 
I realize I am not the only person in ministry who has juggled multiple roles. When I recently discussed this complex topic with more than 25 women in ministry, their dedication and the sacrifices they’ve made amazed me. I want to highlight a few of the insights that surfaced.

 
Some Challenges Are Universal

I catch myself talking about what pastors face in ministry. People in our churches who work in the marketplace deal with many of the same challenges. They struggle to find enough time for what matters to them. People constantly scrutinize them to see whether they are being “good” Christians. They face ethical dilemmas, leadership challenges, budget shortfalls and employee drama.

 
People work hard. Until I put in 40-plus hours at my job and another 15 hours for the church, I didn’t understand the strain it was putting on our church families. Issues that I somehow thought were exclusive to the ministry deeply affect those who work outside the church as well.

 
A Job Offers Connections

A great benefit of bivocational work is the opportunity to build relationships in the community. When I started working in banking, suddenly I knew people in my community beyond our circle of church attenders. I met a cross-section of society I would have never met in church.

 
I realize that not all jobs put you face-to-face with the community, but if it’s possible to have that kind of interaction, it is a plus. Healthcare, education and finance jobs can be especially complementary to ministry.

 
The Marketplace Can Be an Outlet for Ambition

The opportunities I had to develop as a person were completely different working outside the church. While we try our best to set goals in the ministry, so much is subjective. How do you measure whether someone is walking more closely with the Holy Spirit?

 
I found it refreshing to work with measurable sales goals. I grew to love my job, and found fulfillment in accomplishing it to the best of my ability.

 
Many things we cloak under the term “calling” are just a spiritual way of justifying selfish ambition. The ministry is not the place for that. If you are an ambitious person, maybe you should consider a bivocational career. It gets gross when upward mobility mingles with the vulnerable work we do in the church of restoring people’s souls. The marketplace can become a much-needed outlet for the drive for advancement.

 
There’s a Sabbath for a Reason

The biggest pitfall to bivocational work is the tendency to become a workaholic.

 
I had to prop myself up every Monday morning after a weekend of ministry work. Yet the work for the church doesn’t go away. For a while, I believed I could do it all.

 
When we get out of rhythm with God’s design, it takes a toll. Often, our children are the ones who ultimately pay the price. Now that I have a regular day off, it has taken a while to overcome the feeling that I should be doing more. In reality, I am doing more because I am a healthier person. My work is higher quality, my character better reflects Christ, and my family has the margin it needs to be healthy.

 
Investing in Ministry Is Worthwhile

We concluded that the church could only grow so much if I wasn’t investing more time. It did make a difference when I could focus my efforts on the work of the ministry.

 
Doing things like interacting with other leaders, discipling individuals or even pushing harder on Sundays ultimately do make a difference. We’ve experienced significant growth, both numerically and financially, since my family took a huge step of faith and I left my secular job. Aligning my schedule with my husband’s brought a much-improved pace to our crazy life.

 
Job Juggling Requires Balance

I would like to add that pastors who perform other ministry roles, such as traveling and speaking for events, are doing bivocational work. Even if it’s all in the context of ministry, the same advantages and pitfalls often apply, particularly the danger of becoming a workaholic. I have seen dynamic leaders burn out from exhaustion after years of traveling and pastoring simultaneously.

 
I don’t need to name all the ways that unbalanced living can bring destruction for a leader and a church. I only ask that you consider the safeguard of a regular day of rest when making decisions about the calendar. God will bless our efforts when we honor His Word.